When is a professional angler’s name not his own property? This is the strange but true circumstance that Tim Horton is currently experiencing.
The former Bassmaster Angler of the Year is facing possible legal action from Tim Hortons, a chain of 2,800 coffee and donut shops in Canada and the U.S. Attorneys for the corporation are threatening the pro with a lawsuit if he uses his name to promote any products.
“They’ve asked me to quit using my name,” Horton said. “When my attorney first contacted me I thought he was playing a joke on me. He wasn’t.
“It’s up in the air right now. It’s almost comical; I can’t believe it. They don’t want me to sell shirts with my name on them, lures with my name on them, DVD’s with my name on them. I told them in 1972 my mother didn’t have a clue what Tim Hortons was when she named me.”
The conflict emerged last year when Horton registered his name and a number (1) with the U.S. Patent Office for a trademark.
“When they saw I had registered for a trademark they went and looked at everything I had in my name,” he said. “They saw lures and DVDs that were for sale, and they started telling me that I couldn’t be selling stuff with my name on it.
“I even offered to change it to Timmy Horton, which was the reason I asked BASS officials to refer to me as Timmy last year. But they’re still fighting me on it. When I heard from them last year we decided to [register] Timmy Horton. Then about three weeks ago they contacted me again. They claim they have that name registered, too.”
Horton pointed out that one of his sponsors, lure-maker PRADCO, has his name on several lures.
It was jokingly suggested that he consider changing his name.
“What about ‘The Fisherman Formerly Known as Tim Horton?’ ” he replied.
TournamentWear Received this article from Ultimate Bass Fishing Guide
What are your thoughts? I have never even heard of Tim Hortons!!!
Timmy,
Buddy I would fight them all the way to the Supreme Court on this deal. I am a tournament angler myself and we have enough to deal with besides this penny anny gargage. You know what gets me is if they registered the name then how the hell come no one has ever heard of them? His name would actually be registered different because of the addition of the numer (1). So in my opinion I feel that this is something for the courts to figure out. Because the last time I checked he was given that name from birth and your birth certificate is a legal binding document.
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